Aerator converter



24, 1957 J. A. HJULIAN AERATOR CONVERTER Filed May 28, 1965 UnitedStates Patent 3,348,777 AERATOR CONVERTER Julius A. Hjulian, 12646 S.Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, Ill. 60463 Filed May 28, 1965, Ser. No.459,825 Claims. (Cl. 239-4245) This invention relates generally tofaucet aerators and more particularly to a device for selectivelyconverting a faucet discharge from aerated to coherent or nonaeratedflow.

Aerators are very commonly employed in conjunction with the waterfaucets in domestic kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities; and thevast majority of these aerators are arranged to become a substantiallypermanent part of the installation. Moreover, the prior art commercialaerators are incapable of permitting coherent or nonaerated dischargefrom the associated faucet. Hence, the conveniences of a coherent flowhave been heretofore unavailable in installations that have beenarranged for aeration.

An important object of the present invention is therefore to provide anattachment for use on domestic faucet aerators which permits selectingeither aerated or coherent flow.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedaerator arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is used inselectively converting from aerated to coherent flow and which is easilyand quickly assembled to various types of faucet aerators.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an aerator converterwhich acts as a faucet bumper.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent from a consideration of the following descriptions.

An aerator arrangement in accord with the invention includes a converterattachment comprising a tubular member that is st-retchably assemblableto a faucet aerator. The converter attachment also comprises a flowcontrol member joined to the downstream end of the stretchable tubularmember, and the flow controlling member includes an outwardly narrowing,conical throat, this conical throat being arranged for selectivelycutting off the normal, upward flow of aerating air by means of atemporary Hood of water adjacent its major dimension.

The invention, both as to its construction and its mode of operation,will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure anddrawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water faucet arranged with an aeratorand provided with a converter attachment constructed in compliance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, central cross-sectional view of the aerator andconverter attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged central sectional view of a modified converterattachment.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to FIGS. 1-3 andfirst to FIG. 1, a domestic water faucet 20 is seen provided with anaerator 22 and a converter attachment 24. The faucet 20 is connected toa source of water, not shown, by means of a fitting 26.

Continuing with particular reference to FIG. 2, the faucet 20 includesan externally threaded discharge end 28, and the aerator device 22comprises a generally cylindrical casing 30 that has an internallythreaded upper portion 32, portion 32 cooperatively engaging thethreaded discharge end 28. The lower end of casing 30 is defined by aninturned lip 34; and between the threaded upper "ice portion 32 and thelip 34, the casing 30 includes a cylindrical wall portion 36. Verticalribs 38 are raised from the inner surface of casing 30 for use inmounting a skirt member 40 within the casing. The ribs 38 are spacedapart angularly as is shown in FIG. 3, and the skirt member 40 isarranged to take a shape similar to that of casing 30 but of lesserheight and diameter. Thus, the ribs 38 cooperate with the skirt member40 in defining an annular air-inlet passageway 42 leading upwardly fromthe lip 34 and surrounding a discharge edge 44 which comprises the lowerterminus of skirt 40.

The aerator device 22 additionally incorporates a bafiie cup 46 which issupported by the upper ends of the ribs 38 and which is centrallyperforated to direct the flow of water over a mixing element 48. Themixing element 48 depends from and is supported by an integral breakerplate 50, and breaker plate 50 is provided with a series of angularlyspaced ports 52 which direct the fiow from faucet 20 over the surface ofmixing element 48, the centers of ports 52 being located on a circlethat is concentric with breaker plate 50. The peripheral margin ofbreaker plate 50 rests on the supported edge of baffle cup 46; anddesirably, a washer 54 of rubber or other suitable material is situatedbetween the lower end of faucet 20 and the breaker plate 50.Furthermore, the aerator device 22 may, if desired, incorporate a screen56 or other mesh element within the skirt 40 and beneath the mixingelement 48 for promoting aeration of the flow of water passing throughthe interior of the skirt and toward its discharge edge 44.

In use of the aerator device 22, water flows through the ports 52 andover the lateral edges of the mixing element 48, the edges of thecentral aperture in bafile cup 46 controlling this fiow. The water whichcascades from the edges of the mixing element 48 aspirates air throughthe passageway 42, between the ribs 38 and between the upper edges ofskirt member 40 and the lower surface of bafile cup 46. The air thusdrawn into the interior of skirt member 40 mixes with the watercascading from the element 48 to produce an aerated discharge. Thisaspirating of air and mixing action is illustrated in FIG. 2 where solidline arrows indicate the flow of water and broken line arrows indicatethe flow of air.

In accord with the present invention, the converter attachment 24 isassembled to the aerator device 22 for use in selectively developing acoherent or non-aerated discharge. Structurally, the converterattachment 24 comprises a tubular member 58, a flow controlling member60 and a flow directing member 62. In compliance with the features ofthe invention, the members 58, 60 and 62 are fabricated to be integraland are made from a comparatively soft, resilient polymeric material,rubber compositions having a Short A durometer of about 50 in thevulcanized state having proved useful in this regard. So fabricated, thetubular member 58 may be made to take a first inside dimension forstretchable assembly to the cylindrical outer wall 36 of aerator casing30; and as will be recognized, the stretchable character of tubularmember 58 permits the converter attachment 24 to accommodate aeratorcasings having certain differences in outside dimension.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 2, the flow controlling member 60 ofconverter attachment 24 is joined to the downstream end of the tubularmember 58; and in compliance with an important feature of the invention,the flow controlling member 60 is provided with an outwardly narrowing,conical throat 64. The conical throat 64 is selected to have a majordimension that is smaller than the inside dimension of tubular member 58in order that an annular stop shoulder 66 may be situated at thejuncture of members 58 and 60, shoulder 66 projecting radially inwardlyfrom the inner wall of tubular member 58 for engagement with theabutment defined by the outer surface of lip 34, thus locating theconical throat 64 with respect to the discharge edge 44. Both thedischarge edge 44 and the throat 64 are substantially circular incrosssection; and in compliance with the present invention, the minorinside dimension of the throat 64 is arranged to be only sufficientlygreater than the inside dimension of the discharge edge 44 to cause apersisting flood adjacent the major diameter of the throat when amomentary backup is developed in the aeratedflow through the throat.This flood acts to cut ofl the normal, upward flow of aerating air so asto create a non-aerated discharge. More particularly, the minor insidedimension of throat 64 is indicated by the reference letter x, and theinside dimension of the discharge edge 44 is indicated by the referenceletter y,

it being apparent from an inspection of FIG. 2 that the dimension x issomewhat greater than the dimension y. In specific embodiments of theinvention, units in which the difference between dimension x anddimension y has ranged from about 0.30 inch to about 0.80 inch haveperformed successfully. Moreover, the distance from the discharge edge44 to the lower edge of member 62 as established by shoulder 66 shouldbe at least about 6 to 7/32 of an inch.

The flow directing member 62 is joined to the downstream end of flowcontrolling member 60, and the flow directing member 62 is specificallyarranged to include a cylindrical throat 68 which has an insidedimension that is substantially the same as the minor dimension x of theconical throat 64. The cylindrical throat 68 acts to promote acylindrical flow during non-aerated discharge whereby to preventundesirable flaring or constriction in the flow upon non-aerateddischarge.

With respect to the degree of taper or angulation of the conical throat64, a seven degree flare to the throat has proved to be particularlyuseful in that it provides a suitably conical throat while permitting ofa location of the cylindrical throat 68 at a suitable distance radiallyout- \vardly from the vertical projection of discharge edge 44. Thetaper or angulation of throat 64 is indicated in FIG. 2 by the angle twhich is shown as the similar angle for convenience of illustration.Angulations of as much as thirty degrees may be employed in certaininstances.

In use, the converter attachment 24 is assembled to the aerator device22 with the stop shoulder 66 engaging the abutment defined by the outersurface of lip 34'. Initiation of flow through the faucet creates anaerated discharge in the usual manner with air being drawn upwardthrough the passageway 42 to mix with the water flowing downwardlythrough the skirt 40. However, when a coherent or non-aerated flow isdesired, a momentary backup in this flow is caused by passing a knifeblade, at finger or some other solid object horizontally through theflow closely adjacent the lower end of the converter attachment 24. Themomentary backup thus caused in the flow causes a flood in the areagenerally between lip 34 and conical throat 64 and between dischargeedge 44 and the inner edge of lip 34. This flood persists after theobject causing it has been removed, and this flood prevents air fromentering the passageway 42, thus developing a coherent or non-aerateddischarge. To convert once again to aerated flow, it is only necessaryto turn off the flow of water from faucet 20, permitting the temporaryflood to drain and re-open the passageway 42 to the flow of air.

From the foregoing descriptions, it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides a converter attachment for aerator devices whicheasily and conveniently permits selecting between aerated and coherentflow. In addition, the converter attachment of the invention, being ofsoft polymeric material, acts as a bumper in preventing accidentalcontact with the tip of the faucet from. breaking or damaging glasses,dishes and the like. It will also be recognized that the converterattachment of the invention is easily and quickly assembled to varioustypes of faucet aerators.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been thus far shownand described, it should be understood, of course, that the invention isnot limited thereto since many modifications may be made. Therefore, andin order to enhance the understanding of the invention, a modifiedconverter attachmentis shown in FIG. 4, being there illustratedgenerally by the reference numeral 24a. Since the converter attachment24a is similar in many respects to the converter attachment 24, likenumerals have been used to designate like parts with the suflix letter abeing employed to distinguish those elements associated with theconverter attachment 24a.

Converter attachment 24a is particularly characterized by theelimination of the stop shoulder between tubular member 580 and flowcontrolling member 60a and by the elimination of the flow directingmember. The converter attachment 24a is fashioned with internal threads70 in the tubular member 58a and, accordingly, is adapted for assemblyto an aerator device having an externally threaded portion. It is to berecognized that the threads 70 serve as axial locating elements wherebyto permit the elimination of the stop shoulder between the flowcontrolling member 60a and the tubular member 58a. Additionally, thethreads 70 could be located on the external surface of member 58a. Inother respects, the converter attachment 24a is fabricated and functionssimilarly to the converter attachment 24.

The specific examples herein shown and described are to be considered asbeing primarily illustrative. Various changes beyond those describedwill, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and such changes areto be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as theyfall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An aerator assembly for providing an aerated flow of fluid from aliquid discharge member, said aeratorassembly comprising: a skirt membersupported by the liquid discharge member with an annular fluid dischargeedge at a lower end of the skirt member; a wall member supported by theliquid discharge member and positioned radially outwardly of said skirtmember and terminating with a lip positioned adjacent to said dischargeedge to at least partially define air inlet passage means between saidskirt member and said wall member through which air passes to beaspirated into liquid flowing from the liquid discharge member; atubular member supported by the liquid discharge member and locatedradially outwardly of said wall member; and a flow controlling memberjoined to a lower end portion of said tubular member and extendingdownstream from said wall member, said flow controlling member includinga downstream narrowing conical throat to enable a persisting flood ofliquid to be formed in said air inlet passage means when a momentarybackup is developed in the aerated flow through said conical throatwhereby to cut oil a normal flow of air through said air inlet passagemeans to develop a non-aerated discharge of liquid, wherein saiddownstream narrowing conical throat has a major inside dimension that issmaller than an inside dimension of said tubular member and wherein saidflow controlling mem' ber includes a shoulder at a juncture of said flowcontrolling member with said tubular member, said shoulder bridgingbetween said major inside dimension of said conical throat and saidinside dimension of said tubular member to locate said conical throatwith respect to said fluid discharge edge by engagement with said wallmember.

2. In an aerator arrangement, the combination according to claim 1wherein said conical throat has a taper of about seven degrees.

3. An aerator assembly for providing an aerated flow of fluid from aliquid discharge member, said aerator assembly comprising: a skirtmember supported by thev liquid discharge member with an annular fluiddischarge edge at a lower end of the skirt member; a wall membersupported by the liquid discharge member and positioned radiallyoutwardly of said skirt member and terminating with a lip positionedadjacent to said discharge edge to at least partially define air inletpassage means between said skirt member and said wall member throughwhich air passes to be aspirate-d into liquid flowing from the liquiddischarge member; a tubular member supported by the liquid dischargemember and located radially outwardly of said wall member; a flowcontrolling member joined to a lower end portion of said tubular memberand extending downstream from said wall member, said flow controllingmember including a downstream narrowing conical throat to enable apersisting flood of liquid to be formed in said air inlet passage meanswhen a momentary backup is developed in the aerated flow through saidconical throat whereby to cut off a normal flow of air through said airinlet passage means to develop a nonaerated discharge of liquid; and aflow directing member joined to a downstream end of said flowcontrolling member, said flow directing member including a cylindrical 6throat having an inside dimension which is substantially the same as aminor inside dimension of said flow controlling member.

4. In an aerator arrangement according to claim 3, the combinationwherein said tubular member, said flow directing member and said flowcontrolling member are integrally fabricated from a comparatively soft,resilient polymeric material.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said polymeric materialis rubber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,849,217 8/1958 Bachli et a1.239-4285 2,954,936 10/1960 Shames et a1 239-4285 3,261,555 7/1966Hjulian 239432 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

1. AN AERATOR ASSEMBLY FOR PROVIDING AN AERATED FLOW OF FLUID FROM ALIQUID DISCHARGE MEMBER, SAID AERATOR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A SKIRTMEMBER SUPPORTED BY THE LIQUID DISCHARGE MEMBER WITH AN ANNULAR FLUIDDISCHARGE EDGE AT A LOWER END OF THE SKIRT MEMBER; A WALL MEMBERSUPPORTED BY THE LIQUID DISCHARGE MEMBER AND POSITIONED RADIALLYOUTWARDLY OF SAID SKIRT MEMBER AND POSITIONED WITH A LIP POSITIONEDADJACENT TO SID DISCHARGE EDGE TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY DEFINE AIR INLETPASSAGE MEANS BETWEEN SAID SKIRT MEMBER AND SAID WALL MEMBER THROUGHWHICH AIR PASSES TO BE ASPIRATED INTO LIQUID FLOWING FROM THE LIQUIDDISCHARGE MEMBER; A TUBULAR MEMBER SUPPORTED BY THE LIQUID DISCHARGEMEMBER AND LOCATED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID WALL MEMBER; AND A FLOWCONTROLLING MEMBER JOINED TO A LOWER END PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERAND EXTENDING DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID WALL MEMBER, SAID FLOW CONTROLLINGMEMBER INCLUDING A DOWNSTREAM NARROWING CONICAL THROAT TO ENABLE APRESISTING FLOOD OF LIQUID TO BE FORMED IN SAID AIR INLET PASSAGE MEANSWHEN A MOMENTARY BACKUP IS DEVELOPED IN THE AERATED FLOW THROUGH SAIDCONICAL THROAT WHEREBY TO CUT OFF A NORMAL FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID AIRINLET PASSAGE MEANS TO DEVELOP A NON-AERATED DISCHARGE OF LIQUID,WHEREIN SAID DOWNSTREAM NARROWING CONICAL THROAT HAS A MAJOR INSIDEDIMENSION THAT IS SMALLER THAN AN INSIDE DIMENSION OF SAID TUBULARMEMBER AND WHEREIN SAID FLOW CONTROLLING MEMBER INCLUDES A SHOULDER AT AJUNCTURE OF SAID FLOW CONTROLLING MEMBER WITH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAIDSHOULDER BRIDGING BETWEEN SAID MAJOR INSIDE DIMENSION OF SAID CONICALTHROAT AND SAID INSIDE DIMENSION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO LOCATED SAIDCONICAL THROAT WITH RESPECT TO SAID FLUID DISCHARGE EDGE BY ENGAGEMENTWITH SAID WALL MEMBER.